Audiphone.



No. 763,414. PATENTED JUNE 28, 1904 o. J. MASSINGER.

AUDIPHONE.

APPLICATION fILED JUNE 30. 1903. RENEWED JUNE 1. 1904.

NO MODEL.

UNITED STATES Patented June 28, 1994.

PATENT @EEIQE.

AUDIPHONE.

$PECIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 763,414, dated June 28,1904. Application filed JuneSO, 190T). Renewed June 1,1904. Serial No.210,679. (No model.)

To all w/mm it play concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES J. MAssINeEP.

a citizen of the United States, residing at Collingswood, county ofCamden, and State of New Jersey, have invented a certain new and usefulImprovement in Audiphones, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in audiphones, andhas for its object to provide a simple device to be placed in theear-passage, so as to beinvisible, to facilitate the hearing on the partof those afflicted with partial deafness; and a further object of thisinvention is to so construct the device that no solid portion will comein contact with the walls of the ear-passage and proper ventilation willbe allowed at all times. Further objects will be obvious from thedescrip- 'tion.

I/Vith these ends in view this invention consists in the details ofconstruction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth and thenspecifically designated by the claims.

In order that those skilled in the art to which this inventionappertains may understand how to make and use the same, the constructionand operation will now be described in detail, referring to theaccompanyingdrawings, forming a part of this specification, in whichFigure l is an enlarged longitudinal section through my improvedaudiphone; Fig. 2, a section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a rearview of the device; Fig. 4, an elevation of the device for inserting theaudiphone in the ear. Fig. 5 illustrates my improved device in positionin the ear-passage.

I am aware that numerous devices have been patented which are designedto be inserted in the ear-passage to facilitate the hearing; but thepurpose of my device is to intensify and increase sound-waves by avibratory wire coil, then transfer these sound-waves to a doublediaphragm, which diaphragm is close to the ear-drum and nerves ofhearing.

A represents the main shell or body, which is a cylinder composed ofcelluloid or other suitable material, and on the outside of the cylinderare arranged rings, of felt, rubber, or other pliable soft material,which are designed to hold the device equidistant from the wallsrearward end of the cylinder A.

of the ear-passage and prevent the solid portion of the device fromcoming in contact at any place with the walls of the ear. and thepliable rings B will give as the device is inserted.

C represents celluloid rings surrounding the cylinder A and in closecontact with one side of the pliable rings B. These metallic rings C aidin holding the pliable rings B in place.

D is a rounded cap, of celluloid or other suitable material, placed overthe forward end of the cylinder A.

E is a diaphragm, of mica, secured in the forward end of the cylinderA.The central portion of this diaphragm is solid, but the outer portion isslotted or cutaway at the points E, so as to allow for the freecirculation of air through the device. F is a second diaphragm, of mica,of about the same diameter as the solid portion of the diaphragm E. Thisdiaphragm F is secured to the diaphragm E by a ring of rubber G, thusmaking an air-tight closure from which the air has been partially drawnto create a partial vacuum.

H is a metal diaphragm located near the I is a steel wire extending fromthis diaphragm or disk H in a straight line to the diaphragm F, where itcontacts the diaphragm F lightly and then is bent back upon itself andcoiled in any number of convolutions desired, the last coils being madelarge enough to contact the interior of the cylinder, so as to hold thewire in position.

The walls of the cylinder A and cap I) are perforated to allow forventilation and also to allow the sound-waves to pass through to theauditory nerves.

In operation the device is designed to be inserted in the ear-passage bymeans of a handle J, as shown in Fig. 4, the extensions J passing insideof the cylinder and the rear end of the cylinder coming in contact withthe shoulders J After the device is inserted any sound-waves coming incontact with the disk H will be transferred to the steel wire I andintensified and increased by the vibrations of said wire, so that thesound-waves will impinge upon the diaphragm F and through the vacuumbetween the two diaphragms to the diaphragm E, thus increasing andintensifying the sound to such an extent as to enable the defective eardrum in transferring the sound to the auditory nerves.

The device may be removed by means of a string tied to the rearward endthereof, as shown at K in Fig. 1, or the device could be moved andinserted, if desired, by means of a pair of tweezers.

Of course I do not wish to be limited to the exact construction hereshown, as slight modifications could be made without departing from thespirit of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, What I claim as new and usefulis* 1. In an audiphone, a perforated cylinder, rings of pliable materialsecured around the outside of the cylinder, a perforated cap securedover the inner end of the cylinder, a diaphragm located upon the innerend of the cylinder, a coil of wire contacting the diaphragm upon itsinner end, a metallic disk secured to the outer end of the wire formingthe coil, as and for the purpose specified.

2. In an audiphone, a perforated cylinderof celluloid or the like, ringsof feltor similar material secured around the outside of the cylinder, aperforated hemispherical cap of celluloid or like material secured uponthe inner end of the cylinder, a diaphragm of mica secured upon theinner end of the cylinder, the central portion of said diaphragm beingsolid, said diaphragm being provided with openings around its outeredge, a coil of steel wire located within the cylinder, the inner end ofthe coil contacting the diaphragm, a metallic disk secured to the outerterminal of the coil and arranged centrally of the cylinder, as and forthe purpose specified.

3. In an audiphone, a perforated cylinder of celluloid or like material,rings of pliable material secured around the outside of the cylinder andadapted to come in contact with the ear-passage, a perforatedhemispherical cap of celluloid or like material secured at the inner endof the cylinder, a double diaphragm secured at the inner end of thecylinder, one diaphragm being held at a distance from the other, the airbeing partially withdrawn from the space between the two diaphragms soas to form a partial vacuum, a coil of steel Wire contacting thediaphragm at its inner end, a metallic disk arranged in the center ofthe cylinder and secured to the outer terminal of the coil, as and forthe purpose specified.

4. An audiphone adapted to be inserted in the ear-passage so as to beinvisible, consisting of a perforated cylinder, rings of pliablematerial surrounding said cylinder adapted to come in contact with thecar-passage, a hemispherical perforated cap secured around the inner endof the cylinder, a diaphragm of mica secured upon the inner end of thecylinder, the central portion of said diaphragm being solid and theouter portion being provided with openings, a second diaphragm of micalocated a slight distance outside of the first diaphragm and oppositethe solid portion, a ring of rubber interposed between the twodiaphragms so as to form an air-tight inclosure, the air being partiallywithdrawn from said air-tight inclosure to form a partial vacuum, a coilof steel wire arranged within the cylinder, a metallic disk secured tothe outer terminal of said Wire, the wire extending in a straight lineinward from the disk to the diaphragm with which it contacts, then beingbent back upon itself in several convolutions,

the outer coils contacting the walls of the cyl-' inder to hold the wireand disk central, means for inserting and withdrawing the device fromthe ear-passage, as and for the purpose specilied.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signatu re in thepresence of two sub scribing witnesses.

CHARLES J. MASSINGER. \Vitnesses:

MARY E. HAMER, L. IV. MoRRIsoN.

